With winter setting in (hopefully not quite yet!), don’t forget about hydrating during your workouts. During the winter people tend to drink less when they work-out outdoors because they don’t have as much of the thirst sensation or are not sweating. However, you are still losing fluids despite a lack of sweat. Take a swig of liquids at least every 15 minutes during training, whether thirsty or not, to help offset dehydration.

If you have any ideas or agenda topics for Michelle Blessing and our first Tri Camp, or our Nordic Skiing program, please pass them on. Email Art, art.thompson@yahoo.com. Thanks!

Michelle’s BioMichelle Blessing has competed in hundreds of races in her lifetime, including running, cycling, and triathlon races. She won the Empire State Building Run-up in 1995, raced on the USA mountain running championship team, cycled on Team Saturn for a brief stint, and raced at the Ironman World Championships numerous times. After her career as a professional triathlete, cyclist, and runner, Michelle joined USA Triathlon in 1997 to become the Junior National Team coach, the interim National Teams coach, and the National Teams coordinator. Since 1999, Blessing’s portfolio of athletes boasts 25 USA Triathlon National Team members, ten Olympic Trials qualifiers, eight Junior National Team members, two of the six 2000 Olympic Team members, as well as several top foreign racers-including the 2000 Male Australian Triathlete of the Year, and the top ranked Chilean female. She has traveled extensively with her athletes, overseeing them in International Triathlon Union World Cup races, the World Championships, both Olympic Trials and the Olympics. Michelle served as the Head Coach for both the Men’s and Women’s Olympic triathlon Teams at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. In 2000 and 2001 Michelle was selected as the USOC coach of the year for triathlon.

In addition to coaching, Michelle was committed to serving the sport through ongoing education and research. She spent several years working extensively with the USOC Sports Science Center to develop training protocol for supplemental oxygen training at altitude. Michelle also conducted both USA Triathlon Olympic Trials Camps, served as Head Coach for the International Triathlon Union Solidarity Camp, and served on the National Coaching Committee for USA Triathlon. She was a frequent presenter/trainer at USA Triathlon Coaching Clinics and contributed numerous chapters to the coaching manuals. She also led the committee which designed and drafted USA Triathlon’s 2000 Olympic Plan. Besides her work for the International and National federations, Michelle has consulted with and contributed to various publications and web sites including Outdoor Magazine, Women’s Fitness, Shape, Men’s Journal, Vogue, Triathlete Magazine and Inside Triathlon.

Currently, Michelle Blessing and her partner, are one of the top sales teams with ERA Shields. In just six years of working in real estate, she has established herself as one of the top agents both locally and nationally. She has consistently qualified for national production awards with ERA since 2004. She is a native Coloradoan, and her past community involvement is extensive – from the Children’s Literacy Center to the Governor’s council for Childcare. Her current community involvement includes serving as Chairman of the Capital Campaign for Care and Share, Race Coordinator for “Racing with the Stars” to benefit the Susan G. Komen foundation, and coaching an Under 4 boys soccer team. Michelle enjoys virtually all sports and loves to spend time outdoors with her husband, daughters, and many friends.

Share this:

Like this:

Worried about eating too many carbs? A recently published study found that individuals who ate a high carbohydrate diet, meaning that 60% of their calories came from carbohydrate rich foods, weighed less and were healthier than those who ate low carbohydrate diets (40% or less of daily calories from carbs). Scientists believe this is because the individuals within the high carbohydrate group were eating more fruits and vegetables than the low carbohydrate group. Eat up your 5-9 servings a day!

Share this:

Like this:

BOZEMAN TRIATHLON CLUBTritons Win USA Triathlon Pacific Northwest Championships in First Year as an Official USAT Club

The Bozeman Tritons are the 2008 USA Triathlon Pacific Northwest Region Club Champions.

Mike McCormick, USAT-PNW regional president, notified the Club of the thrilling news last week.

The regional championship includes a $750 cash award, which the Bozeman Triathlon Club intends to put to good use enhancing its program.

The team took first place, in the top division, beating out triathlon clubs in major metropolitan areas like Seattle, Portland, Honolulu, Anchorage, Spokane, and Boise.

For 2008, the USAT-PNW Championships were geared towards a membership drive, rather than direct athletic competition, to foster triathlete growth in the Pacific Northwest.

To take the championship crown, the Bozeman Triathlon Club recruited thirty-one new USA Triathlon members. Total Triton membership now stands at 44.

Referring to the first place finish, Triton Coach Laurie Thatcher beamed “It’s pretty cool, for our first year! We’re definitely a fun group, while offering serious training for all ages and abilities.”

Montana State University student and Triton Chris Depner gushed, “The first place finish is really exciting. I am so glad to have been part of it all.”

Chris added, “Our local Treasure State Triathlon was in late August. I improved my time over last year by seven minutes, and I was really impressed by how all of my teammates met their goals, too, whether it was improving their times or simply finishing their first tri. While keeping it fun, the coaching, the Club training program, the group motivation really help. The results are there. It’s why the Club is growing.”

The Championship tops off a terrific first season for the bootstrapping Tritons. Previously, the Club was the recipient of a $600 grant from the national office of USA Triathlon in Colorado Springs. The grant is to be applied towards the purchase of a CompuTrainer, a cutting edge, indoor “virtual reality” cycling trainer.

The Bozeman Triathlon Club thanks its sponsors, especially Bangtail Bikes, Fleet Feet, and Gold’s Gym, for supporting its championship drive.

The Tritons are currently commencing its off season training program. The Club welcomes adults, MSU students, and athletes of all ages and abilities. Additional information is available at www.bozemantritons.org.

THE BOZEMAN TRITON CHRONICLESThe Complete Idiot’s Guide for Starting a Tri Club, a Backgrounder on the 1-Year Old Club from Start-to-Finish

Will Compete for Team Unis! Smilin’ Ragtaggin’ Tritons at the Treasure State Tri, Bozeman, MT – August 17, 2008

Tri•ton (tr?t’n) n. — Greek Mythology. A god of the sea, son of Poseidon and Amphitrite, who is portrayed as having the head and trunk of a man and the tail of a fish. Centauro Tritons have the legs of horses, too.

The Bozeman Tritons arise, not from the sea, but from pools of water. The Club is the offspring of the “SwimStrong, SwimAltitude” Bozeman Masters Swim Club (“BOZE”). Similar to most United States Masters Swimming programs, one-third of BOZE members are triathletes.

Swim — Mass Start – Summer 2007
Chris Axelson of the former Threshold Sports agrees to sponsor the Swim Club. As a sweetener, Chris indicates that he wants to get back into coaching, and would like the opportunity to coach track workouts once-a-week for BOZE triathletes. Art Thompson agrees, and the start of a triathlon club is underway.

T1 — Fall 2007Fresh from the Ironman Kona World Championships, Triton Coach Laurie Thatcher volunteers to share her triathlon experience and coach the team. Having conquered Ironman Coeur d’Alene and now pregnant, Triton Coordinator Sherri Pearson cuts back on training and volunteers to help organize the Club. Sherri files the official USAT Club application, for 2008. Triton Coaches Justin Mellman and Minde Erickson join the coaching ranks and volunteer to respectively coach outdoor running and indoor dryland sessions at Gold’s Gym. Triton Molly Hayes represents Team USA and takes gold at the ITU World Championships in Hamburg, Germany.

Bike — Winter 2007/2008Coach Laurie organizes a series of free triathlon clinics for the Bozeman area community, an educational outreach program to stimulate interest in the sport and the Club. Clinic topics include off season training, training intensity, training plans, nutrition, and injury prevention. Meanwhile, Chris Axelson shifts gears, and along with his wife, Mandy Bowden, start up Homestake Lodge. They agree to serve as Triton Nordic ski coaches for the Club’s off season training program.

T2 – Spring 2008Coach Laurie goes live with the Tritons 20-week group training program, focused towards the Club’s A-Priority race — the local Treasure State Triathlon. Laurie starts coaching cycling sessions, and the Club expands group training to three intensity sessions per week – cycling, running, and dryland. Most Tritons continue to obtain swim training through the Bozeman Masters. Due to the late winter, the Club suffers a disastrous beginning to outdoor cycling. Through June, Wednesday evening group rides are frequently forced indoors due to snow, hail, and t-storms. Coordinator Sherri Pearson writes a grant letter to USA Triathlon requesting funding for an indoor cycling alternative, the CompuTrainer.

Run – Summer 2008An incredible twenty-two Tritons compete in the Olympic-distance Treasure State Triathlon. Four Tritons qualify for and compete in the USAT Age Group National Championships at Hagg Lake, OR – Chris Depner, Molly Hayes, Dan Heil, and Cheryl Juergens. USA Triathlon awards the Club a $600 grant towards a CompuTrainer. Seattle-based CompuTrainer is happy to “do its part,” by sponsoring the Club and selling the $2000 machine to the Club for the $600 USAT grant amount. Fleet Feet Bozeman and Bangtail Bikes agree to sponsor the Club, and support its championship drive effort. The Tritons win the USA Triathlon Pacific Northwest Region Club Championships.

Share this:

Like this:

CHRIS DEPNER ON USAT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS EXPERIENCE
I had a good race at Nationals. Good swim, good run, no nutrition related issues. I did unfortunately get a cramp in my calf on the bike which probably set me back 2-3 minutes. Oh well, that is the way of the sport. I still was happy with the results and it was a great course to race on. I also saw the pro races and they were pretty impressive. Tell Coach Laurie thanks, I had a great year!

MOLLY HAYES BEATS SISTER MADONNA BUDER AT NATIONAL TRIATHLON CHAMPIONSHIPS!
Competition was fierce in the Women’s 75-79 age group at the USA Triathlon Olympic Nationals held at Hagg Lake, Oregon last week. Although Sister Madonna Buder beat Triton Molly Hayes to the finish line, Hayes posted the fastest transition times of the day. Seventy-five year old Hayes was able to run the half mile uphill path to the transition area and strip her wetsuit off, don her pink Hammer outfit, and jump on her Bike Friday almost 2 minutes ahead of the competition. Coming back in to the transition area after the grueling hilly 24 mile bike course, Molly once again dominated in transition with a solid one minute advantage heading out to the run. Molly also contributed points to Team Montana which placed 9th in the overall state competition. While no one can pick their age group, we can all call our own victories. Way to go Molly!